The Panoptic Sibyl System and the Dystopia in Gen 8robuchi‘s Psycho Pass Santy, C.1 and Soelistyo, L.2 1,2) English Department, Faculty of Letters, Petra Christian University, Siwalankerto 121-131, Surabaya 60236, East Java, INDONESIA e-mails: [email protected]; [email protected] ABSTRACT This study aims to prove that Sibyl System is the Panopticon and to analyze the causes of dystopia in Gen UroEuchi‘s Psycho Pass. In Psycho Pass, Sibyl System is the governing system which possesses a resemblance to the Panopticon. It implies that Sibyl System may actually be a Panopticon; thus, we want to prove this using the theory of the Panopticon by Michel Foucault. Moreover, Sibyl System shows signs of being the cause of the dystopian society in Psycho Pass even though it was designed to create utopia. To find out more about this, we analyze each characteristic of the dystopian society and trace their causes to Sibyl System‘s aspects. Through the analysis, by comparing Sibyl System‘s aspects to six of the 3anopticon‘s aspects, it is found that Sibyl System is indeed a Panopticon, and these panoptic aspects with its loopholes are the causes of the dystopian society. In conclusion, a Panopticon such as Sibyl System, though designed with noble intentions, can have flaws that prove fatal in changing the society into a dystopian one. Keywords: Panopticon, dystopia, Sibyl System Anime, or -apanese animation, is derived from the word ”anim•shiyon‘, Japanese reading of the English word ”animation‘. Anime first gained popularity in Japan in the 1960s due to Ozamu Tezuka‘s worNs, and in the last two decades, —anime began to attain wide international popularity with the Pokémon television series and films such as Miyazaki‘s Spirited Away (2002), winner of an Academy Award for best animated feature film“ (:allenfeldt, 2009). A genre that has always been popular for anime is science fiction. In fact, the first popular anime, Astro Boy, is a science fiction anime, and ever since then science fiction has always been a favorite genre for both producers and audiences. A Japanese writer with a worthy contribution to science fiction is Gen Urobuchi who is known for writing dark and tragic stories. He becomes popular recently due to his work, the anime Puella Magi Madoka Magica, which is praised widely and has won many awards; among them are Anime Kobe Awards 2011 and Tokyo International Anime Fair 2012, both for Best Television Animation Award (—News,“ n.d.). 2ne of Gen 8robuchi‘s most recent worNs is the anime Psycho Pass. Psycho Pass is an interesting text to be analyzed because it portrays a unique variation of dystopian world that is dominated by advanced technology with emphasis on justice and government system. It is set in a futuristic Japan in 2112 which is governed by the so-called perfect computer system, Sibyl System, which Mudges and monitors the citizen‘s psycho pass (emotions, desires, and inclinations) and crime coefficients (a measure of the person‘s probability to commit crime). Psycho Pass tells the story of Tsunemori Akane, an Inspector, and Kougami Shinya, an Enforcer under Tsunemori, who have to face Makishima Shougo who opposes Sibyl System through anarchy and manipulation. MaNishima‘s efforts to topple Sibyl System reveal the darker aspects of Sibyl System, especially the fact that Sibyl System is actually a cyborg system, conducted by the brains of criminally asymptomatic people who used to be criminals, that seeks to control the society. The story of Psycho Pass raises many questions, especially regarding Sibyl System. Sibyl System gives the judgment on how people should live best and monitors the psychological condition of the people, which greatly resembles some aspects of the Panopticon, a prison design by Jeremy Bentham. This raises the question as to whether Sibyl System is a Panopticon through and through. Another thing to be questioned is how Sibyl System is not accepted by all despite it being advertised as a perfect system. Sibyl System is created for a good cause which to create a perfect society without crime. However, it is later revealed that the perfect society is only an illusion for there are some darker aspects to Sibyl System. Thus, Psycho Pass‘ society qualifies as a dystopia instead of utopia. 61 Sibyl System is based on Panopticon‘s design and therefore, sharing its goal and possessing its aspects. When it is proved that Sibyl System is a Panopticon, Psycho Pass‘ dystopian society will imply that the Panopticon in that world fails. We are interested to look into the 3anopticon‘s failures and discover why they can create a dystopia. Therefore, we want to look further into the aspects of Sibyl System to prove whether it is a Panopticon, and from its proved aspects, analyze the causes why the society in Psycho Pass that is supposed to be a utopia turns into a dystopia. ,n order to analyze and prove that Sibyl System is a Panopticon, we use 0ichel Foucault‘s theory of the Panopticon. The Panopticon is an architectural design of prison by Jeremy Bentham in 1787 which is discussed at length by Foucault in his book Discipline and Punish: The Birth of Prison. The Panopticon has a circular structure with a tower at the center. This particular design of the Panopticon plays an important role for its main function which is the observation of inmates‘ behavior without the inmates knowing whether they are being observed at the moment. This main function is shared by Sibyl System which is why we state that Sibyl System and the Panopticon are similar. To prove that Sibyl System is a Panopticon, we enclose six of the Panopticon‘s aspects that are provided by Foucault to be compared to Sibyl System‘s aspects. These six aspects are visibility and unverifiability, automatic and disindividualized power, royal menagerie and laboratory, multiple applications, economical in terms of material, personnel, and time, and efficient. To trace the causes of dystopia, we use the characteristics of dystopian society. Dystopia, according to John -oseph Adams, describes —an unfavorable society in which to live“. ,n a dystopian society, the illusion of a perfect society is maintained by the government to hide the flaw(s) that lies beneath. There are many characteristics that can define a society as dystopian, but we use only three of them: the first is the restriction of information, independent thought, and freedom; the second is the dehumanization of citizens; and the last is the division of people into castes or groups with specialized functions (NCTE, as cited in Chung, n.d.; Wells, 2011; Witalec (ed.), 2003). THE PANOPTIC SIBYL SYSTEM In this part, we want to prove that Sibyl System serves as the Panopticon in Psycho Pass by comparing each aspects of Panopticon with those of Sibyl System. When it is found that Sibyl System possesses the 3anopticon‘s aspects despite the differences, then Sibyl System is proved as the Panopticon in this series. Visible and Unverifiable Scanners Sibyl System shares the Panopticon‘s main functions which are visibility and unverifiability. The Panopticon has a central tower which is visible to all the inmates but its covered windows prevent the inmates to see whether there is a supervisor inside, providing unverifiability, causing the inmates to Neep their behavior in checN. Sibyl System also possesses these —towers“, called the scanners. They are tools designed specially to measure a person‘s stress patterns that affect his/her psycho pass through Hue Assessment. Sibyl System makes sure that the citizens know that it is always keeping an eye on them by placing its scanners everywhere so that it is easily spotted. The citizens become aware of the scanners around them, so they strive to keep their psycho pass clear (under the regulation value). Other than guaranteeing visibility, these scanners also provide unverifiability because they do not always perform the Hue Assessment according to a particular schedule, causing the citizens to not knowing exactly when they are assessed, but they may always be sure that they are always assessed. Unless they keep their psycho pass clear at all times, the scanners are bound to detect them at unexpected times. For example, in episode two, a person is detected having a cloudy psycho pass when he is going out in the mall. A criminal thought just suddenly strikes him at that time, but Sibyl System is able to detect him right away through the scanners and judges him as a criminal. As mentioned and explained above, the scanners provide Sibyl System with the visibility and unverifiability aspects of the Panopticon. These aspects ensure that the citizens maintain their stress and control their thoughts every time. Automatic and Disinvidualized Power of Sibyl‘s Computerized System Sibyl System, like Panopticon, also automatizes and disindividualizes power. Due to its computerized system, Sibyl System‘s power is automatic and is not accountable to a particular person 62 or group; therefore, anyone can operate Sibyl System no matter who and why. The citizens do not know who are behind Sibyl System, just like the inmates in the Panopticon do not know who the supervisors in the tower are. All they know is that they are watched, and that is enough for them to behave themselves. Consequently, the fact that the brains behind Sibyl System are mostly ex- criminals whose motives are questionable does not become a problem. For instance, Touma Kouzaburou, a member of Sibyl System, admits in episode seventeen that he enjoys being a member because he can feel an infinite pleasure with the world under his rule. To most people, this motive will be unacceptable; however, since the citizens have no way to find out, they can only try to live according to the regulations in a blissful ignorance.